Troon
Troon is a seaside town in Ayrshire in southwest Scotland, with a population of 14,950 in 2020. It's about 50 miles from Glasgow so it's one of the closest beach resorts to the city, and is crowded on fine summer weekends. Another major attraction is golf, best known being the Royal Troon Golf Club which regularly hosts the Open. Troon is also a transport hub and base for exploring the rest of Ayrshire, including the islands of Arran and Great Cumbrae.
Understand
"Troon" probably derives from a Pictish word meaning "rocky headland", and it developed as a port at a time when Glasgow could not. In the early 19th century the Ayrshire coal mining industry was growing - big profits if you could ship the coal out. Troon was therefore built as a planned town and harbour, connected to Kilmarnock by Scotland's first railway. Ship building and other heavy industries were also established here and at other small ports along the Clyde coast. It was only in the 1880s that a deep-water channel was blasted up the Clyde to enable Glasgow to grow and overshadow these earlier ports. But the bonus was a big city population keen to escape at weekends "doon the watter", so Troon evolved into a seaside resort on the "Costa Clyde", the "Glesca Riviera". It still handles freight but no longer has regular ferries, though it sometimes serves as a diversionary port if rough weather closes some other harbour.
Get in
Reaching Troon by public transport usually involves travelling via Glasgow.
By plane: The best local airport is Glasgow (GLA IATA), with flights from UK, Europe, and Canada; places beyond (such as the United States) are better served from Manchester MAN and the London airports. From GLA to Troon, travel via central Glasgow. The other airport, Prestwick (PIK IATA), is much closer but only has budget flights to the Med, so few visitors arrive that way.
By train: Trains run from Glasgow Central every 30 min daily, taking 50 min via Paisley Gilmour Street, Kilwinning and Irvine, and continuing south to Prestwick Airport and town, and Ayr. The last train out of Glasgow is at 11:30PM.
1 Troon railway station was destroyed by fire in 2021. All trains are running and calling as normal, but there are only makeshift facilities for tickets, toilets and so on, plus upheaval from demolition and rebuilding. The new station is due to open some time in 2024.
Barassie is a platform halt a mile north of Troon where some trains from Glasgow stop. You might use it for the north beach or golf course.
By bus: direct buses from Glasgow have been axed, so from Buchanan station either take the X77 and change at Prestwick, the X76 and change at Kilmarnock, or the X44 and change at Irvine; any of these routes will take about 90 min. From Belfast, take the direct bus towards Glasgow and change at Ayr.
Stagecoach Bus 10 runs from Kilmarnock hourly via Dundonald and Muirhead to Troon (55 min) and Barassie.
Bus 14 runs every 45 min from Irvine via Muirhead and Barassie to Troon (35 min) and continues to Prestwick and Ayr. Change at Irvine for the 585, which follows the coast to Ardrossan, West Kilbride and Largs.
The main bus stop is at the angle of West Portland St with South Beach. It's a just a bus shelter.
By car: From Glasgow and east and central Scotland follow M77 / A77 to Hurlford roundabout just outside Kilmarnock, then follow A71 and A759 into Troon. From England head for Carlisle, then A75 to Dumfries, A76 to Hurlford roundabout then as above.
By boat: Troon is no longer a routine ferry port, but is a bad-weather diversion port when the ferry berth at Ardrossan is exposed.
With your own boat, sail in to Troon Yacht Haven, sheltered and accessible at all tides. Call +44 1292 315553 to book your berth or check in online.
Get around
The town is compact and can easily be explored on foot. Bus 14 south to Ayr runs by Royal Troon Golf Club. Bus 10 east to Kilmarnock runs by Dundonald Castle.
The local taxi operator is In-Com (+44 1292 316000). Streamline[dead link] are based at Prestwick (+44 1292 284545) and are less reliable.
See
- Town centre is Victorian red sandstone low-rise. St Meddan or Our Lady of the Assumption (RC) was completed in 1911. Town Hall is cod-Georgian, completed in 1932.
- Beaches have grand views over the Firth of Clyde. South Beach is the more sheltered, and the main visitors' beach. Barassie or North Beach is breezy and exposed. Further out, the sand dunes north and south of town are designated SSSIs: Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
- 1 Crosbie Church on B749 Monktonhill Rd was built around 1681. Now a ruin, it was a "chapel-of-ease" to save parishioners the walk to the parish church at Dundonald.
- Crosbie Castle and Fullerton Estate: don't bother. It stood half a mile north of Crosbie Church but is lost under the weeds and golf hazards.
- 2 Dundonald Castle, Winehouse Yett, Dundonald KA2 9HD (Bus 10), ☏ +44 1563 851489. Daily 10AM-5PM. There’s probably been a fortification here since the Stone Age, but the present structure was built by Robert Stewart around 1371 when he became King Robert II. So it’s over 600 years old and looks every day of it: basically just a masonry shell, and an hour here will be plenty. The castle has the usual hoaky legends of buried gold, secret tunnels and the inevitable ghost: Jules Verne added to these by setting part of his novel “The Underground City” here. Dogs on lead welcome. Adult £7, senior £6, child £5.
Do
- 1 Royal Troon Golf Course, Craigend Rd KA10 6EP, ☏ +44 1292 311555. Two famous 18-hole golf courses, the Old Course and the Portland, and the 9-hole Craigend. The Old Course is used for the PGA Open Championship and is machair, sandy links near the sea shore. As a private club, the members have wide discretion over who they do and don’t admit, and until 2016 they didn’t allow women full membership. They risked losing their PGA tour status over this, so they changed the rules and hosted the Open that year.
- PGA Open Golf tournament is hosted by Royal Troon every seven years or so, with the next on 14-21 July 2024.
- Open Links of Ayrshire is a combi-package with Royal Troon, Prestwick Old Course and Trump Turnberry south of Ayr. Reckon £2000 for a couple playing all three, plus accommodation and meals at Turnberry. You can't book this online, call +44 1655 333 991 or email reservations@trumpturnberry.com.
- Other courses: Troon Links include the Darley, Lochgreen and Fullarton courses. Barassie Links north side of town are the home of Kilmarnock Golf Club, though that town is ten miles away.
- Rugby: Marr RFC play rugby union in the Premiership, the amateur top tier in Scotland. Their home ground is Fullarton Park, a mile east of town centre beyond the golf course.
- Dundonald Highland Games are held on the playing fields just north of Dundonald Castle, with the next probably on Sa 3 Aug 2024, tbc.
- Winterstorm is a rock music festival held in late November at Troon Town Hall.
Buy
- Supermarket: Morrisons is on Dukes Rd just north of town centre, open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 8AM-8PM.
- The Herbary, Ayr Street, ☏ +44 1292 313489. jewellery and fine gifts.
- Pandora of Troon, Portland Street, ☏ +44 1292 310888. home fragrance, jewellery & gifts
- Frame Work Gallery, Portland Street, ☏ +44 1292 316144. Contemporary Scottish art.
Eat
- Brodie's Deli, 39 Ayr St KA10 6EB, ☏ +44 1292 314494. M-W 9:30AM-4PM, Th-Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Grand little cafe for light bites.
- 1 Maharani Indian Restaurant, 42-46 West Portland St KA10 6AB, ☏ +44 1292 311797. Daily 4:30PM-midnight, and F noon-2PM. Reliable place for Indian food, slick service.
- Tinto Tapas, 10 Portland St KA10 6EA, ☏ +44 1292 318866. Daily 10AM-midnight. Friendly value-for-money tapas place in town centre.
- Scotts, Harbour Rd KA10 6DJ, ☏ +44 1292 315315. Su-Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-midnight. Bar and restaurant looking out towards Arran and Ailsa Craig.
- Hotels: best reviews for dining go to Marine Hotel and Lochgreen House Hotel, see Sleep.
Drink
- Anchorage Hotel, 149 Templehill KA10 6BQ, ☏ +44 1292 317448. Su-Th noon-10PM, F Sa noon-midnight. Decent enough for a bar meal and drinks. It has rooms but they're tatty. B&B double £100.
- Number 47 (formerly Cheeky Charlie), 47 Templehill KA10 6BQ, ☏ +44 1292 312814. M-Th 3PM-1AM, F-Su noon-2:30AM. Lively sports bar with wide screen TV and pool table.
- Harbour Bar, 169 Templehill KA10 6BH, ☏ +44 1292 312668. M-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su noon-1AM. Trad but welcoming pub.
- Bruce's Well, 91 Portland Street. Daily noon-midnight.
- Dan MacKays, 69 Portland Street KA10 6QU, ☏ +44 1292 737372. Daily 10AM-12:30PM. Great friendly bar with beer garden.
- Lonsdale Bar, 15 Portland Street KA10 6AA, ☏ +44 1292 311355. M-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-11PM. Visitors prefer the lounge, local regulars guard their spots in the bar.
Sleep
- 1 Lochgreen House Hotel, Monktonhill Road, Troon KA10 7EN (B749 a mile south of town), ☏ +44 1292 313343. 32-bedroom hotel near Royal Troon Golf Course, amidst quiet woodland and gardens. With spa and good restaurant. B&B double from £260.
- Marine Hotel, 8 Crosbie Rd KA10 6HE (within Royal Troon GC), ☏ +44 1292 314444. 89 room hotel with two restaurants, swimming pool and gym, overlooking golf course. Much improved by refurbishment. B&B double £130.
- 2 Old Loans Inn, 31-33 Main Street, Loans KA10 7EX (A mile east of Troon along B746), ☏ +44 1292 315976, info@simpsinns.com. 20 contemporary rooms, good restaurant with local Scottish produce. B&B double £110.
- 3 Piersland House Hotel, Craigend Rd KA10 6HD (Opposite Royal Troon Golf Club), ☏ +44 1292 314747. Country house-style hotel once owned by a member of the Johnnie Walker whisky firm. Generally good reviews, but their many wedding parties get noisy. B&B double £130.
- 4 South Beach Hotel, 73 South Beach KA10 6EG, ☏ +44 1292 312033. Family-run hotel with 32 rooms, gets good reviews for cleanliness and welcome. B&B double £130.
Connect
Troon and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of July 2022, 5G has not reached town.
Go next
- Largs is a similar seaside town, with a short ferry crossing to Great Cumbrae.
- Ayr has the Burns Heritage Centre at Alloway. Culzean Castle is a few miles further south.
- Ardrossan is only worth visiting to take the ferry to the charming Isle of Arran.
- Glasgow is a great destination that needs several days to explore.